Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID is hot!

In late January in Miami, the topic of Intelligent & Smart Packaging was as hot as the conference location. The Pira Intl. (www.piranet.com) and IDTechEx (www.idtechex.com) Conference and Tradeshow was dominated by electronic product coding, or ePC.

February 28, 2003

Industries: Page 645

Flexibles

Candy and coffee team up

If Seattle-based Starbucks is synonymous with fine coffee, Brown & Haley, Tacoma, WA, has a similar cachet with its Almond Roca candy. Beginning this year, the two organizations are teaming up as B&H produces Mocha Roca Coffee Buttercrunch in distinctive packaging for exclusive sale at Starbucks outlets.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

PLASTIC AND PAPER MARKET TRENDS

In its new study Paper versus Plastics in Packaging, Cleveland-based Freedonia Group reports that total demand for paper and plastic in competitive packaging markets is projected to increase 1.6% annually to 21 billion lb in 2006.

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

FPA study picks consumers' brains

Qualitative, focus-group research conducted recently by Perception Research Services on behalf of the Flexible Packaging Assn. (Linthicum, MD) arrived at six key conclusions:

February 28, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Q&A: A bold new world of automated ID

Kevin Ashton is executive director of the Auto-ID Center (www.autoidcenter.org), a research project of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

February 28, 2003

Dairy

Strong visuals help launch product

Ionic Communications Group (Cincinnati, OH) created a packaging strategy to launch a line of frozen, breaded shrimp for Cincinnati-based Azure Waves Seafood, Inc.

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Web Plus: Sites

New or enhanced Web sites

February 28, 2003

Containers

Web Plus: Online purchasing of corrugated to grow

Representatives of three major manufacturers say that corrugated box makers need to aggressively cut costs because of pressure from the major consumer-packaged-goods companies and the ongoing evolution of online bidding for box business.

February 28, 2003

Beverage

Achievements

Latrobe Brewing Co., Latrobe, PA, is the first brewery in the Americas to achieve Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point accreditation for food safety.

February 28, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Organic equals healthy, GM = ?

More than 6 in 10 American shoppers believe organic foods are better for their health. But, according to a new study by the Food Marketing Institute and Prevention magazine entitled “Shopping for Health 2002: Self-Care Perspectives, Volume 2: Organic Foods and Genetically Modified Foods,” many remain confused about genetically modified foods.

February 28, 2003

Cosmetics/Personal care

Filler-capper grows savings

Agrichemical products maker Micro Flo adds a 10-station indexing filler-capper for liquids that replaces older equipment. Benefits include labor savings, speed and output increases, and reduced product giveaway.See in-plant video

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Following a dream

Thanks to two new vtf/f/s machines, entrepreneur Dr. Aly Gamay was able to expand his cheese processing and flavoring businesses to include nutraceuticals, snacks for kids, and contract packaging, too.See in-plant video

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Interactive strap pack is wireless

Keeper’s feature-packed I-Pack™ secures the tie-down straps, yet permits consumers to interact with the product on store shelves—all without wires.

February 28, 2003